Fanny Stevenson: A Romance of Destiny

This 500-page, fictionalized biography is an impressive, engrossing work. Fanny Vandegrift Stevenson was a physically-robust 'man's woman' in an era when women were used hard, but held back, typed, and discriminated against. A very early marriage to a charming, faithless, adventuring neighbor-turned-gold-prospecter resulted in several children whom she took around the world in her life's amazing travels and adventures. She gave and endured much w/husband No. 1, whom she divorced to marry writer Rob't. Louis Stevenson. That relationship was far more satisfying and productive. By becoming his vigilant caretaker and loving critic/editor/scribe, she prolonged his fragile life sixteen years and thereby left the world a rich legacy of superior literary works. Their union was largely a happy one, although not without tensions, screamers, and blow-ups, detailed in the book. Being a vigilant caretaker is a thankless job, as caretakers everywhere can attest. Mrs. S. didn't fare well in the eyes of many others, who were jealous and resentful of her influence over Stevenson, his change from adolescent to adult, and her temerity in limiting Stevenson's self-destructive (given his health) bon vivant tendencies. He, too, apparently grew to resent it as the years progressed and he enjoyed (towards the last and due to her), better health, greater energy, and congenial surroundings. But it was a true love match. They remained devoted to each other throughout their marriage and past his death. His loving poem, "To My Wife" (undated), is the cover page to the hardcover edition. Its tenderness and realism are truly moving. The Notes section describes the author's field trips all over the world and US, and the process of synthesizing new Letters, dialogue, and scenes from the materials found. The Epilogue's follow-up of all the key primary and secondary characters is greatly appreciated, as by the story's close, one feels close to and curious about them. The Bibliography is enormous and of great interest in itself. Stevenson was a lion in the Western European literary circle of his time, and their peregrinations to the South Seas and Polynesia put them in extended contact with famous people from several cultures, esp. the indigenous leaders of Hawaii and Samoa.

This biography is, as the title implies, a romantic story. Fanny Stevenson 's drive for life took her from a comfortable Midwestern family life to Gold Rush San Francisco to Impressionist Paris to the South Pacific, with three colorful men, the most famous of whom was Robert Louis Stevenson. She was maligned for her fierce adventurousness in her own era; Alexandra LaPierre resurrects her story with admiration, and tells it well.

it is ashame that this book left store shelves so quickly and has become so hard to find. it is one of those rare gems of biography, seemlessly weaving facts and writings and the many stories of a life into a work with a novel-like quality. the work gracefully unfolds the tale of a powerful, courageous woman. fanny stevenson was a woman ahead of her time and she was of her time. she traveled alone across our continent and to europe at a time when women traveled with companions at the very least. she m